Need an Auto Accident Attorney in Goose Creek, SC?
The Goose Creek, South Carolina, auto accident lawyers at Seaton & Duncan have the experience you need to maximize your recovery in your car accident case.
There is no “run of the mill” car wreck. Every case is unique and requires an independent investigation of the facts and analysis of SC auto accident law.
After a car crash in Goose Creek, South Carolina, your attorneys at Seaton & Duncan will help you recover the maximum damages that are recoverable under South Carolina law and the facts of your case.
An automobile crash can be a life-changing event, not only for the occupants of the vehicle but for the entire family in many cases. Your attorney at Seaton & Duncan will handle the financial aspects of your case for you, negotiating with the insurance companies, investigating the incident, gathering evidence, and preparing for a possible trial while you focus on recovery and family.
The Goose Creek Auto Accident Attorneys at
Seaton & Duncan Care About You, Your Family, and Your Case
Your auto accident lawyer at Seaton & Duncan will do everything legally and ethically possible to win your case.
Why?
Because we care about your case, your family, your health, and your future. We want to see you succeed and get back on your feet after a traumatic event like a car crash.
Also, we don’t get paid unless you get paid, and how much we get paid is determined entirely by how much you get paid.
For both reasons, we will 1) fight to win your case for you, and 2) fight to maximize the damages that you recover. Our goal is to recover full and fair compensation for you and your family, and, to the extent it is possible in a court of law, hold the “bad actor” accountable for their negligence.
When you retain the Goose Creek, South Carolina, auto accident attorneys at Seaton & Duncan, we will:
- Meet with you to learn about your case, answer your questions, help identify your goals, and help determine your next steps;
- Communicate with the insurance companies on your behalf;
- Investigate the crash and gather the evidence you will need to prove your claims to the insurance company or a jury;
- Help you to retain private investigators or experts as needed;
- Demand full and fair compensation from the defendant and their insurance companies;
- File a lawsuit if the defendant and their insurance companies do not settle your claim; and
- Litigate your case through a trial and appeal when necessary.
South Carolina Auto Accident Law
The Goose Creek auto accident lawyers at Seaton & Duncan have the experience you need to recover the maximum damages available under South Carolina Law and the facts of Your case.
Your auto accident attorneys at Seaton & Duncan have extensive experience investigating auto accidents, negotiating with insurance companies, litigating civil claims, and trying car wreck cases to a jury verdict.
Every case is different, and we cannot guarantee a particular result in any case, but we can tell you that we have a proven track record of achieving results for our clients and will fight to recover the maximum damages that you are entitled to receive under the facts of your case.
Negligence/ Liability
Before we can recover damages from the responsible party, we must prove that the crash was their fault.
To show that the other driver was negligent, we will need to prove that:
- They owed a duty to you and other drivers on the road (every driver owes a duty to operate their vehicle safely, follow the traffic laws, and keep a proper lookout, for example), and
- They breached their duty to you (for example, by violating a traffic law, failing to keep a proper lookout, or driving while drunk).
Damages/ Injuries
The plaintiff must also prove damages that resulted from the defendant’s actions.
Damages in an auto accident case could include:
- Medical expenses including hospital bills, doctors’ bills, ambulance and EMS bills, medical equipment, medications, and costs of surgeries,
- Future medical expenses,
- Long-term care,
- Pain and suffering,
- Mental anguish,
- Wrongful death damages, and
- Punitive damages in some cases.
Causation/ Proximate Cause
Negligence alone is not enough to establish liability – we must also prove that the defendant’s negligence was the proximate cause of the crash and your injuries.
A general rule for determining negligence is the but for test – “but for the defendant’s actions, would the crash and injuries have happened?”
The defendant’s actions must be the immediate, or proximate cause of the crash and injuries, however.
For example, while the defendant’s failure to stop for a stop sign may be a proximate cause of the accident, we cannot say that the defendant’s mother is liable for the accident because she gave birth to the defendant (even though, “but for” the birth, the crash would not have happened).
A Source of Recovery
Even when there is a valid case with provable negligence, proximate cause, and damages, there must be a source of recovery.
Possible sources of recovery include:
- The defendant driver’s insurance policies,
- Other drivers’ insurance policies,
- The defendant driver’s personal assets,
- The driver’s employer if they were on the clock at the time of the crash,
- Businesses or municipalities if they contributed to road conditions that caused the crash, or
- Any other individual or business that contributed to causing the crash.
Worry Free
They are very good at what they do! Go see them today and be worry free!
– Kipp Cavadias
Great Lawyer
Great Lawyer, will definitely use again when needed. Thank You Beau!
– Charles McGee
Wonderful Lawyer
He truly cares about his clients!! A wonderful lawyer!!
– Lamarr Richardson
Common Questions for Auto Accident Lawyers
in Goose Creek, South Carolina
How Much Does an Auto Accident Lawyer Cost?
Personal injury attorneys, including auto accident attorneys, usually charge a contingency fee. The contingency fee is usually 1/3 of the client’s recovery, but it could be more or less depending on the nature of the case.
We do not ask for attorney fees upfront in most auto accident cases, and we only get paid if you get paid.
What is the Difference Between Contributory Negligence and Comparative Negligence?
North Carolina has a “contributory negligence” system, under which the plaintiff cannot recover damages if the jury finds that they are even 1% at fault for the crash.
South Carolina has a “modified comparative negligence” system, where the plaintiff’s recovery is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to them by the jury up to 50%, and their recovery is denied if the percentage of fault assigned to them is greater than 50%.
How Much Can I Get Paid in an Auto Accident Lawsuit?
The amount of any settlement or verdict at trial will be based on the provable damages suffered by our client, which could include:
- Medical expenses and future medical expenses,
- Long-term care,
- Compensation for pain and suffering,
- Disfigurement or scarring,
- Mental anguish,
- Wrongful death damages, and
- Punitive damages when appropriate.
Can I Get a Quick Settlement in My Case?
A “quick settlement,” in most cases, means “nuisance money.” In many cases, the insurance company will gladly offer you a pittance to go away.
Before we settle your case on your behalf, however, we must:
- Investigate and review all evidence in your case;
- Consider all possible defendants and sources of recovery;
- Consider all possible causes of action, claims, and defenses, as well as any other legal issues that could arise in your case; and
- Ensure that you have either 1) completed treatment for your injuries or 2) an expert’s prediction of what your total expenses are going to be, including future surgeries and long-term care if needed.
In some cases, this happens relatively quickly. In others, the insurance company may refuse to pay although the case can be settled at any time up to and including during trial or on appeal.
Ready To Speak With An Attorney?
Let’s discuss the details of your case and see if we can help.